Thursday, September 17, 2015

Shakespeare’s Othello Act II depicts Iago’s plans to get Cassio out of his lieutenancy position.

Supporting ideas and explanations to prove main ideas

Iago convinces Roderigo that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair. He tells Roderigo this because he knows that this will aggravate Roderigo. Later in the act, Iago convinces Cassio to drink, knowing that Cassio doesn’t react well to alcohol. He does this so that Cassio will end up in a fight with Roderigo, and get stripped of the lieutenancy due to his poor actions.

Concluding sentence: restate main idea

Othello by Shakespeare illustrates with words, Iago’s plans to get Cassio stripped of his lieutenancy.

Iago uses other people’s weaknesses and secrets against them for his own personal gain.

Set-up

Knowing that Cassio does not react well to alcohol, Iago plans on getting Cassio drunk so that his actions will lead to Cassio being stripped of his lieutenancy.

Evidence: Lead-in “ quotation” (Shakespeare 1.2.13-17).

Iago states his plans to the audience,”If I can fasten but one cup upon him with that which he hath drunk tonight already, he’ll be as full of quarrel and offense as my young mistress’ dog” (Shakespeare 2.3. 49-52).

Shakespeare depicts Iago’s plans aloud to the audience, describing Iago’s plot to get Cassio drunk so he can be easily persuaded to brawl with Roderigo. This leads to Cassio fighting Montano, a well respected man in Cyprus, which then climaxes to Cassio being stripped of the lieutenancy. Iago used Cassio’s vulnerability with alcohol intolerance to force Cassio to fight someone who he shouldn’t have. As a result, Cassio lost his position of power as a result of Iago’s jealousy over Cassio being named lieutenant.

Counterclaim 1: However, ....

However, Iago is not a villain because all Iago does is help Cassio after he is stripped of the lieutenancy.

Set-up

Cassio was just stripped of the position lieutenant, and Iago is giving him advice on how to regain the position lieutenant.

Evidence: Lead-in “ quotation” ( )

Cassio, crying, is encouraged by Iago to think of how to regain his position as lieutenant,“I’ll tell you what you shall do” (Shakespeare 2.3 333).

Iago actually is a very caring friend because he took the time to give Cassio advice on how to regain the position of lieutenant.

Rebuttal:

What are the strengths/ flaws of this argument? (use rebuttal progression language)

A common view is that Iago is not a villain, because he cares about others due to their vulnerabilities. It is understandable why Iago could be perceived this way, because Iago did give Cassio advice on how to regain his position as lieutenant. But it is more complicated than that, Iago truly demonstrates villainous acts when he uses other’s weaknesses against them. Iago uses Cassio’s alcohol intolerance to get Cassio drunk and involved in a fight, so that Cassio would be stripped of his position as a lieutenant.

Concluding sentence: restate main idea

Othello Act II by Shakespeare depicts Iago, and his vile plans to get Cassio stripped of the lieutenancy.

Saturday, September 12, 2015

In the documentary Bully, Lee Hirsch manages to convey the idea that bullying can greatly influence one’s perception of themselves and their decisions.

Supporting ideas to prove main ideas

At only the age of 12, Alex now believes that those who demonstrate physical violence and brutality towards him are his friends. At age 14, Ja’meya’s sense of right and wrong are taken to the extreme after she suffers from a surplus of bullying. She justified the bullying by scaring off the kids by waving a gun around on her bus. At age 16, Kelby has a change of perspective when she starts thinking that the world needs to accept those who don’t conform to society’s expectations. Finally coming in at age 17, Tyler Long took his own life due to the major bullying that surrounded him on a daily basis.

Explanation of ideas

Alex was so desperate for friends, that he took all of his bullies’ physical and mental abuse as jokes, influencing his decisions when it came to making friends. Ja’meya’s sense of right and wrong was taken to the extreme after suffering from a surplus of bullying. Kelby’s idea of the world took a positive turn as she was bullied. Unfortunately, Tyler Long took his life because of bullying.

Concluding sentence: restate main idea

Lee Hirsch’s Bully, a documentary, showcases and illustrates so beautifully that bullying can alter someone’s perception of themselves, the world, and even their morals.

Lee Hirsch’s Bully accurately portrays the idea of bullying, because it shows you the devastating effects that bullying can have on people not only emotionally, but mentally.

Claim 1:Ja’meya’s feelings were not only being hurt due to bullying, but caused her to suffer a mental breakdown.

Set-up:

Ja’meya’s torment led to a weak self-esteem, but as it went on she started to break down mentally, which eventually led her to bring a gun onto her school bus. She had no intention of hurting anyone, but it got to the point where she felt the need to induce fear among her peers.

Evidence: Lead-in “ quotation” ( )

Ja’meya cries on her mother’s shoulder, “I didn’t want to hurt anybody, I only wanted to scare them”(Hirsch, Bully).

Explanation of quotation to prove claim:

Ja’meya thought that the only way to stop people from bullying her was to induce fear in her tormentors. She decided the best way to make it stop was to use a gun. All of the mental abuse she suffered, in her mind, amounted to physical violence.

Counterclaim 1:However, bullying may not have been the cause of her mental breakdown.

Set-up:

When taking into consideration the possibility that there could be other factors at work in her breakdown, bullying is not the only explanation. There could have been trouble at home, or something about the way she sees herself, that caused her to take the actions that she did on the bus that day.

Evidence: Lead-in “ quotation” ( )

Ja’meya explains how she feels to the cameraman, “It feels like everybody just turned against me”(Hirsch, Bully).

Explanation of quotation to prove counterclaim: When Ja’meya says this, she is not talking about anybody except herself. Therefore it could’ve not been the bullying that caused Ja’meya’s mental breakdown, but instead her self image.

What are the strengths/ flaws of this argument?

Many think that bullying does not severely affect people and their decisions. This can be compelling because there are some forms of bullying such as minor jokes, and pranks that will not affect everyone in this way. While this view seems plausible at first glance, one must realize that most forms of bullying do lead to changes in decision making processes, and can greatly affect us.

Concluding sentence: restate main idea

Bully, a production under Lee Hirsch, so beautifully portrays the effects of bullying on not only our emotions, but our minds. It manages to capture how bullying can twist our perception into something awkward and grotesque.

In scene 1 Iago is already stirring up trouble for Othello when he wakes up Desdemona’s father and lies to him about Othello’s actions. At the end of the act Rodrigo is in despair because he thinks Desdemona does not love him and he contemplates suicide. Desdemona herself explains her love for Othello in front of the Duke to save him in scene 2.

Concluding sentence: restate main idea

Act 1 of Othello introduces us to the characters, their hardships and begins both external and internal conflicts.

Shakespeare’s Othello accurately portrays how women were perceived as objects that one could own, because women were referred to as possessions you could claim, and they weren’t entitled to the right of speech.

Claim 1:

Women were viewed as property because they were thought of as being lesser than men.

Set-up

Brabantio, convinced by Iago and Rodrigo, believes that Desdemona has been stolen from him.

Evidence: Lead-in “ quotation” (Shakespeare 1.2.13-17).

Brabantio informs the Duke about his daughter having been stolen from him, he utters, “She is abused, stol’n from me, and corrupted”(Shakespeare 1.3 73).

Brabantio uses the word stolen; he doesn’t use the word kidnapped. Stolen is a word that one generally uses when referring to personal objects or possessions. Knowing this, Shakespeare illustrates his views of women being lesser objects through Brabantio’s use of “stolen” indicating that Brabantio considers Desdemona as one of his possessions.

Counterclaim 1: However, ....

However, women were treated with respect.

Set-up

Othello is accused of stealing Desdemona from Brabantio, in front of the the Duke.

Evidence: Lead-in “ quotation” ( )

Othello asks for Desdemona to speak on his behalf, “And let her speak of me before her father”(Shakespeare 1.3 136).

Because of Othello’s respect for Desdemona, he asks the Duke to let Desdemona speak on his behalf. Shakespeare contrasts Othello’s request to have Desdemona speak with Brabantio’s mistreatment of Desdemona to show Othello’s regard of Desdemona as a person, and not as an object.

What are the strengths/ flaws of this argument? (use rebuttal progression language)

At first glance it seems valid to say that since Desdemona is highly respected by Othello, that other female characters in the book are highly respected as well and not just seen as property. This seems reasonable because if one woman in the book is treated well then it only makes sense that other women would be treated good as well. However, it is too early in the book to know that all women are not perceived as just being property, and finally we were only introduced to one female character in the first act of “Othello”.

or

A common view is that women are treated as lesser than all men. This is reasonable considering that women are perceived as property throughout the text. However it is more complicated than that. Desdemona is treated with the utmost respect from Othello, but Shakespeare portrays the idea that Desdemona does not have the same respect for Othello, when she refers to him as “the Moor.”

Concluding sentence: restate main idea

Shakespeare’s “Othello” demonstrates how women were thought of as property because most of them did not have say over a man’s life, and they were referred to as mere possessions.

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

In the documentary Bully, Lee Hirsch manages to convey the idea that bullying can greatly influence one’s perception of themselves and their decisions.

Supporting ideas to prove main ideas

At only the age of 12, Alex now believes that those who demonstrate physical violence and brutality towards him are his friends. At age 14, Ja’meya’s sense of right and wrong are taken to the extreme after she suffers from a surplus of bullying. She justified the bullying by scaring off the kids by waving a gun around on her bus. At age 16, Kelby has a change of perspective when she starts thinking that the world needs to accept those who don’t conform to society’s expectations. Finally coming in at age 17, Tyler Long took his own life due to the major bullying that surrounded him on a daily basis.

Explanation of ideas

Alex was so desperate for friends, that he took all of his bullies’ physical and mental abuse as jokes, influencing his decisions when it came to making friends. Ja’meya’s sense of right and wrong was taken to the extreme after suffering from a surplus of bullying. Kelby’s idea of the world took a positive turn as she was bullied. Unfortunately, Tyler Long took his life, and well, took his life because of bullying.

Concluding sentence: restate main idea

Bully, a documentary, manages to illustrate so beautifully that bullying can alter someone’s perception of themselves, the world, and even their morals.

Lee Hirsch’s Bully accurately portrays the idea of bullying, because it shows you the devastating effects that bullying can have on people not only emotionally, but mentally.

Claim 1: Ja’meya’s feelings were not only being hurt due to bullying, but caused her to suffer a mental breakdown.

Set-up:

Ja’meya’s torment led to a weak self-esteem, but as it went on she started to break down mentally, which eventually led her to bring a gun onto her school bus. She had no intention of hurting anyone, but it got to the point where she felt the need to induce fear among her peers.

Evidence: Lead-in “ quotation” ( )

“I didn’t want to hurt anybody, I only wanted to scare them.” was Ja’meya’s explanation to her mother as she was being comforted.

Explanation of quotation to prove claim:

Ja’meya thought that the only way to stop people from bullying her was to induce fear in her tormentors. She decided the best way to make it stop was to use a gun. All of the mental abuse she suffered, in her mind, amounted to physical violence.

Counterclaim 1:However, bullying may not have been the cause of her mental breakdown.

Set-up:

When taking into consideration the possibility that there could be other factors at work in her breakdown, bullying is not the only explanation. There could have been trouble at home, or something about the way she sees herself, that caused her to take the actions that she did on the bus that day.

Evidence: Lead-in “ quotation” ( )

“It feels like everybody just turned against me.” is how Ja’meya describes her feelings to the cameraman.

Explanation of quotation to prove counterclaim:

When Ja’meya says this, she is not talking about anybody except herself. Therefore it could’ve not been the bullying that caused Ja’meya’s mental breakdown, but instead her self image.

What are the strengths/ flaws of this argument?

Many think that bullying does not severely affect people and their decisions. We can not deny that all bullying will affect people in this way, because there are some forms of bullying that are less severe such as minor jokes, and pranks. While this view seems plausible at first glance, one must realize that most forms of bullying do lead to changes in decision making processes, and can greatly affect us.

Concluding sentence: restate main idea

Bully, a production under Lee Hirsch, so beautifully portrays the effects of bullying on not only our emotions, but our minds. It manages to capture how bullying can twist our perception into something awkward and grotesque.